New Entreq Athena rack

[cuntigh]

I saw Entreq build a hi fi rack that is called Athena. It is a wooden one and seems evolutive with different possible configurations.
Does someone now more about it caractiristics, wood used etc and heard it or heard about ? Entreq is a big name in this hobby and if they make a rack we can hope it is a good one.

 

[Barry2013]

Hi Paolo.
Hope you are well.
There's a good piece about the Athena rack on the Lotus Hifi site under Entreq new products.
Hope to get a Poseidon to try next week and will report further.

 

[cuntigh]

Very interesting to see if grounding a rack can be effective and if yes equivalent with amps and digital sources.

 

[Speedskater]

Very interesting to see if grounding a rack can be effective and if yes equivalent with amps and digital sources.

Using a metal rack and connecting all the chassis's to it, while following good engineering practice could be very effective.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I always wondered whether anyone would build a Faraday cage rack one day. Or a grounded cage per shelf or variations thereof.

 

[cuntigh]

If the Athena succeed in combining vibes isolation or absorbtion with EMI / RFI treatment it should be one of the king of the block for some time.
It could be interesting to know if there is several or only one type of wood in it and the quantity and type of grounding material used.

 

[poly]

Has anyone compared these racks with the Stillpoints ES rack ?

 

[Barry2013]

I saw Entreq build a hi fi rack that is called Athena. It is a wooden one and seems evolutive with different possible configurations.
Does someone now more about it caractiristics, wood used etc and heard it or heard about ? Entreq is a big name in this hobby and if they make a rack we can hope it is a good one.

Just been talking to my Entreq expert who is bringing me a Poseidon and Apollo clock cable on Friday and asked him about the Athena.
The woods used are oak and beech, the latter being what they use on their cable connections and which I am advised is denser than oak with all the benefits that brings.
That applies to the legs and the 2 and 3 shelves, the latter comprising 5-11 layers of the two woods with an inner sandwich of a non disclosed black material which is not some proprietary bonding material. As usual with Entreq an absolutes minimal use of any metal.
I am told that the workmanship is of the highest order and that it has been admired and commented upon by skilled woodworkers who have inspected the product.
It all indicates that this is not just another wooden rack and can be expected to perform well with the added benefit of Receivus style EMI/RFI absorption.
Hope that is helpful.

 

[Barry2013]

Has anyone compared these racks with the Stillpoints ES rack ?

Good question!
The Athena looks a more affordable option - see Lotus Hifi site for prices.

 

[cuntigh]

I asked Per Olof for 2 amp stands. I would like to compare them to the SRA platforms. The idea is to make a comparison between SRA for the ATM 3 with native feet and Athenas with native feet, Herbie's feet and Shun Mook UDR feet.
It could be interesting I think.

 

[Barry2013]

I asked Per Olof for 2 amp stands. I would like to compare them to the SRA platforms. The idea is to make a comparison between SRA for the ATM 3 with native feet and Athenas with native feet, Herbie's feet and Shun Mook UDR feet.
It could be interesting I think.

Very interesting.
Do let us know the outcome.